Beginner Flyer: The fighters are awesome looking and they say they are beginner. Can I really fly one as a beginner?

Statement of fact: All sellers who describe fighters as "beginner" planes are looking to make a lot of money on you replacing your plane a few times while you get a handle on keeping them in the air. They love beginners because traditionally, beginners go through many planes. Not Killer Planes beginners, though! Our aim is to keep your replacement plane purchases to a minimum, and your fun time to a maximum. There's one sure way to do that- and this is it!

Here's my question: Are you at the level where you've pretty much stopped crashing when flying an RC plane? My reason for asking is this- Crashproofing might keep the foam intact on your new, gorgeous fighter- but not your plastic. That stuff can be a huge time-eating (and FUN-eating!) pain in the butt, and expensive. We try to keep all our newer students on the Hawksky or Hawkfighter until they get "plane handling" down- those 2 planes have much more effective Crashproofing all around, because of the motor in back design- and the top level Hawkfighter is now up to handling 40+MPH crashes with little or no cracks. Although our claims are far less, the truth is that I've done 60+MPH crashes (at low angles in grass) with Hawkfighters, and after a half dozen cartwheels, picked up the plane and launched it again! We have a few on video doing that at about 50MPH, with little or no damage. Planes with the prop in front? NOT the same.

If you've seen me flying on Youtube, you know how I can handle a plane. I learned ALL my moves (including all the glorious dives into stationary objects, Steve?) starting with a Crashproofed Hawksky, and then a Hawkfighter. I learned them fast because I could try a maneuver, like a high speed dive into a ground skimming hard turn- and when I bit it, I could do something unlike all other pilots- I could say, "Let's try that again"- and then pick up my plane and try it again!

To sum up, my advice is always the same- get the chops down using planes that bounce rather than break, and then put up the planes with breakable parts. Of course, being a lifelong fighter enthusiast, I also experienced the longing for the NICE plane right away (it's what led me here in the first place), so I bought a few Corsairs and Mustangs before I fully learned to handle an RC plane. I did wreck them all, though, which led me to start what became Crashproofing- I want to KEEP my nice planes nice, and still be able to fly them like a maniac. But I did have to have them! Now, you guys all benefit from our nearly 3 years of full time testing of reinforcement. Good EPO foam and Carbon Fiber were born to be together!

Also lots of practice on the simulator will save you a lot of grief. See "Should I practice on a Simulator"